We describe a direct gradiometer using optical pumping with opposite circular polarization in two ${}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atomic ensembles within single multipass cell. A far-detuned probe laser undergoes near-zero paramagnetic Faraday rotation due to the intrinsic subtraction of contributions exceeding 3.5 rad from highly polarized ensembles. develop analysis methods for signal and measure sensit...